The Harder I Fall Review

The Harder I Fall

Written by: Jessica Gibson
# of pages: 215

Average Rating: 3.68/5
My Rating: 4/5

Read in June 2014

Summary according to goodreads

Becca Langer was not a normal girl, she didn't have normal girl problems. For most of her life, she’s had to take care of herself, her younger brother Chad, and her drunk mother. She’s lived under the shadow of what her father did when she was ten years old. Forever branded by his actions.

College was her escape, she could get away and finally live. Her dream was to make it in the New York Ballet Company one day. That for her meant a long road full of hard work and dedication. She didn't have time for distractions, and Levi Klein was definitely a distraction.

Will Levi be able to crack through her tough exterior and really see the wounded soul underneath? Becca needs to be loved, but the question is, will she let Levi love her?

My Thoughts

I received an ebook copy of this book to review, however that does not influence my opinion of the novel.

This book is such a quick, cute, and easy read with a plot that is perfect to read in the summer. In the beginning of the novel I found Levi, the love interest, to be kind of pushy, but I think that he grew as a character throughout the story. There was actually a significant amount of character development for Becca considering her life, and it was good to experience her growth.

Since this is such a short story, there were many parts that felt rushed. I can understand that since this story took place over the course of a school year, and it was only 200 pages that there wasn't a lot of time. However, I felt that some parts did not get the attention they deserved. 

I could so easily relate to this character, and I know you guys will too, that it was simple to have an attachment to her. I was so excited for her at Christmas, and so envious that she got to spend it in New York. Reading about her experience for the first time in the city - seeing Times Square and Broadway, etc - made me nostalgic of my first time there only a number of weeks ago. Her whole trip makes me want to go back and visit so much more. Another way that I could relate is in the upcoming fall I will be attending college across the country in which I am living, and she made me so excited for that adventure.

Although the characters in this story are 18/19, I would consider it to be New Adult because of the content and them being in college. I have not read many New Adult novels, but I know some people are hesitant to pick it up because of sexual content. In this novel there were some "adult" moments, but it was non-descriptive, leaving the reader comfortable with the situation.

One of the lines in this book is; "I promise you, I will always catch you." And just, AHH THE FEELS.

I would have easily given this book five stars if it hadn't been for that ending. I am not going to discuss it in too much detail because I don't want to spoil it, but I was very disappointed. This wasn't how I expected Becca to act, especially considering all she had come through, and I found it to be a very rash decision. 

There is a companion novel coming out told from Becca's brother Chad's perspective, and I am very interested in reading it. I enjoyed the writing style of this novel quite a bit, so I look forward to reading other works from this other.

P.S, This book is currently only $1.00 and some change for kindle, so I totally recommend you guys give it a try! Click here to view it on Amazon!

The Colour of Evil Series Review

Colour of Evil 
Written by: Connie Corcoran Wilson




Colour of Evil 
    Read in June 2014
    # of pages: 279
    Average Rating: 3.44/5
    My Rating: 4/5

Red is for Rage 
    Read in June 2014
    # of pages: 258
    Average Rating: 3.67/5
    My Rating: 4/5

Khaki = Killer 
    Read in June 2014
    # of pages: 220
    Average Rating: 4.25/5
    My Rating: 4/5




Summary of first novel according to goodreads

Tad McGreevy has a power that he has never revealed, not even to his life-long best friend, Stevie Scranton. When Tad looks at others, he sees colors. These auras tell Tad whether a person is good or evil. At night, Tad dreams about the evil-doers, reliving their crimes in horrifyingly vivid detail. 

But Tad doesn't know if the evil acts he witnesses in his nightmares are happening now, are already over, or are going to occur in the future. He has no control over the horrifying visions. He has been told (by his parents) never to speak of his power. All Tad knows is that he wants to protect those he loves. And he wants the bad dreams to stop. 

At Tad's eighth birthday party (April 1, 1995) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the clown his parents hire to entertain Tad's third-grade classmates is one of the bad people. Pogo, the Killer Clown (aka Michael Clay) is a serial killer. So begins 53 nights of terror as Tad relives Pogo's crime, awakens screaming, and recites the terrifying details to his disbelieving family. The situation becomes so dire that Tad is hospitalized in a private institution under the care of a psychiatrist--who also does not believe the small boy's stories.

And then the police arrest Pogo, the Killer Clown.

Flash forward to the beginning of Tad's junior year in high school, 8 years later. Tad is 16 and recovered from the spring of his third-grade year. When Michael Clay was caught and imprisoned, the crime spree ended and so did Tad's bad dreams. 

Until now, in the year of our Lord 2003, when evil once again stalks the land.

This is a terrifying, intense story of the dark people and places that lurk just beneath the surface of seemingly normal small-town America. As one reviewer says, "Wilson nails the darkness beneath the surface of small-town Midwestern life with an intense story based on fact." 

Tad must wage a silent war against those who would harm the ones he loves. A battle to the death.

My Thoughts

I received these books to review as part of a blog tour, specifically the third book, but that does not influence my opinion.

Something that I really enjoyed about the first book was that it got into all of the details for many characters. In the beginning there were chapters dedicated to each character, giving the reader different information on their past and ideas on their personality. It is such an easy novel to get into because it grabs your attention and keeps you interested. 

The writing throughout this series is easy to read, and the chapters are short so it is easy to fly through. This author did a fantastic job of getting you interested in each of the character's lives, and feel strong emotions towards all of them - both positive and negative. 

Throughout the continuation of the series it is evident that the writer finds her groove into the story, thus leading the reader to get even more involved. I must inform you, however, that there is some darker, more adult content including murder, sex, and child molestation - so be aware if that is not something you are fond of reading.

In my opinion the third novel was the best because it wrapped everything up nicely, leaving no questions unanswered.

This is a series I would recommended for readers around 17 or older, because of the content, but it is an overall great series. You may find it odd that I am recommending such a strong series during the summer, but it is a good read because it is a quick one. Plus guess what! Book 2 in the series, Red Is For Rage will be free on Kindle June 26-30th! Make sure you pick it up!

Overall I really enjoyed this series!

Tween Hobo: Off the Rails Review

Tween Hobo: Off the Rails

Written by: Tween Hobo with Alena Smith
# of pages: 230

My Rating: 3/5

Read in May 2014

Summary according to goodreads

A hilarious and irreverent illustrated book based on the popular Twitter feed (@tweenhobo), featuring a young spunky girl who packs up her glitter pens and sneaks out of math class one Monday afternoon to traverse the railroads in search of freedom, adventure, and her own personal obsession: Justin Bieber tickets.



My Thoughts

I received a copy of this book from Simon and Schuster Canada, but that does not influence my opinion of the novel.

I know that this book was based off of a twitter account, but I had never heard of it before being contacted to review this book. The first-person narrator was an eleven year old girl, so that alone should tell you the depth of the story. There were many pop cultural references, including many to Justin Bieber. This got kind of annoying, as did the language although I know it was just part of the character.

I am someone that cannot grasp the difference between my age group and the next, because everything was so different when I was a kid. We did not have twitter or Facebook, and the only time I could use the Internet was at the library at school or the massive desktop my parents had. Reading this book kind of made me feel annoyed because it portrays, at the beginning for sure, a girl that is ignorant of a world away from teen heartthrobs and tumblr.

On a more positive note, there were tweets and drawings, and random other things woven into the story, which were a nice touch. Having more than just text helped create the illusion that you were reading an eleven year olds diary.

In all honesty I am not sure who I would recommend this book to, if I would recommend it at all, but it was just something quick to read. I do not mean to steer anyone off from picking it up, and I would love to hear your thoughts if you do pick it up.

Altered Review

Altered

Written by: Jennifer Rush
# of pages: 323

Average Rating: 4.07/5
My Rating: 4/5

Read in April 2014

Summary according to goodreads 

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them. 

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

My Thoughts

I had started this book last summer, but for reasons I can't remember put it down. I am so glad I picked it back up and finished it! This is a series I am now hooked on.

Right from the beginning of a novel you get thrown into the story, but are gradually given back story of what is going on. This makes it a much quicker read, which I can appreciate, and made it feel like you were reading less than 300 pages. The author did a good job of including many things, but not dragging them out - so you didn't feel as though you were getting too much information, or too little.

One of the reasons that I enjoyed this novel so much were all of the different elements. This is a young-adult dystopian book, with themes of thriller and romance thrown into the mix. Everything was balanced very well and the romance didn't overpower the story, it was more put on the back burner. What unfolded throughout this story was a very realistic depiction of what would have happened for people in that situation. There were also many things going on that I did not predict, including the last hundred pages. I could not put it down and finished it at midnight because I just had to know what happened.

I believe this is going to be a trilogy but only two of the books have been released. Obviously I ordered the second book and am anxiously awaiting it's arrival, and I cannot wait to continue on this journey with these awesome characters. Did I mention it's about a girl and four hot guys? Yes please ... Besides all the bad things that happen of course. This is a series that I could easily recommend to any reader, male or female, because there are comedic elements as well, but also it is not a major focus of how hot these guys are. Hopefully other readers enjoy it as much as I did!

Hypocrisy Book Review

Hypocrisy

Written by: D.M Annechino
# of pages: 278

Average Rating: 3.76/5
My Rating: 5/5

Read in May 2014

Summary according to goodreads

Dr. Lauren Crawford is a brilliant research scientist who discovers a revolutionary treatment for cancer that not only extends life, but much improves the quality of life for terminal cancer patients. The treatment, in some instances, can even cure certain cancers. On the evening before Dr. Crawford holds a press conference to announce that the FDA has given preliminary approval of her new cancer treatment, somebody follows her to her car and puts three bullets in her head. Was it a planned murder with a motive, a mugging gone badly, or merely a random act of violence? Two New York City homicide detectives, Amaris Dupree and T.J. Brown, are assigned to the investigation. The detectives evaluate the circumstances surrounding Dr. Crawford's death, and follow a trail of clues that exposes a sequence of startling facts. One by one, the detectives carefully examine each suspect and piece together a puzzle with unimaginable implications. As the investigation gets more intense, and the detectives get closer to solving the murder mystery, someone threatens Dupree's life. The detectives now realize that Dr. Crawford's murder was much more than a homicide. And if they don't arrest the murderer soon, Dupree might be the next victim.


My Thoughts

I received a copy of this book to review as part of a blog tour, but that does not influence my opinion.

Right from the beginning this novel sucks you into the story, starting with a short prologue from the victims point of view. Having this prologue opens the readers mind to what the story will unfold and what this doctor was on the verge of uncovering. I considered this to be an under-appreciated aspect, because although this was a character that had died, a reader was still able to get a grasp on who she was.

Reading this book was like watching an episode of CSI (or any other crime scene show) and it was awesome. If it wasn't so dangerous being a homicide detective, I would seriously consider getting a degree in criminology. Reading this novel makes you so interested in the story and trying to figure out who was involved. There were no moments where you wanted to put this book down, and that is so important in a thriller.

Something that I really enjoyed about this novel was that the language was acceptable, and there were no "adults only" content like most of the adult books I've read. Most adult books I have been sent to read branch off into moments of erotica and it catches me off guard, or there is an unnecessary amount of curse words. Considering that this book was written about detectives, it was a good creative move to have this characters act and speak professionally. This was a murder mystery/thriller novel, and that's exactly what the author focused on.

I am really glad that I received a copy of this novel because otherwise I might not have picked it up. This is a book I have not heard people talk about, but I can only hope to influence more people to read it. 

Miss Peregrine's Graphic Novel Review

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: Graphic Novel

Written by: Ransom Riggs
Art by: Cassandra Jean
# of pages: 272

Average Rating: 4.13/5
My Rating: 4/5

Read in March 2014

Summary according to goodreads

Ransom Riggs's haunting fantasy bestseller adapted to a graphic novel! 
As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow-impossible though it seems-they may still be alive.

My Thoughts

This book is now one of my favourite graphic novels. The art was so well done, it helped me as a reader to better see and understand what the author visualized as he was writing the original novel. 

I wasn't the biggest fan of the original book as I was disappointed, but this graphic novel made me really enjoy it and realize how good it was. Having this book to make me reflect on was a positive as it made me even more excited to read the sequel, Hollow City. I chose to pick up the graphic novel before reading Hollow City because it had been over a year since I had picked up this series. I am very glad I did because there were some details that I had forgotten about the original story. 

This book was just so well made, both as a hardcover and the pictures inside. The pages were nice and thick, but were also coloured when Jacob was at the house, which I think added a lot to the story. Having the different colours of art helped add life to the story when necessary, and tone it down when called for. Hopefully they do a graphic novel for Hollow City as well, because I think they would also do a good job on that one.

The Lens and the Looker Review

The Lens and the Looker

Written by: Lory S. Kaufman
# of pages: 322

Average Rating: 3.48/5
My Rating: 3/5

Read in May 2014

Summary according to Goodreads

It's the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s), have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized recreations of cities from Earth's distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiencing the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan. In this first of a trilogy, we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don't have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities. These three "hard cases" refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It's hardly the ideal environment to fall in love - but that's exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them - or it could change history. The series takes readers along on the life-changing journey of three 24th century teens. While the three protagonists appear quite immature in the first half of The Lens and the Looker, this is not a series aimed exclusively at young teens. Lory Kaufman says he writes for readers 13 to 113, (and precocious 12-year-olds) This is borne out by the fact that about half the readership of the series is adult. What many readers say they love about this series is its wonderful mix of science fiction (the future) and historical fiction (the past). While there's time travel, there are also sword fights, and while there are detailed descriptions of ancient technologies, the story also includes many colorful characters who just happen to be artificial intelligences. There's allusions to a Romeo and Juliet love story and also characters who have murderous intentions toward the lovers. And the setting? Many readers are praising the accurately described historical setting of 14th century Verona Italy, where much of the story takes place.

My Thoughts

I received a copy of this book to review as part of a blog tour, but that does not influence my opinion.

This novel is the first in a triology, but it was not a series I was interested in reading back to back. It is nothing against the story, but at the beginning of this novel there was such an info dump, and so much to wrap your head around, that I felt like I needed to write something light afterward. This trilogy is a post-dystopian fiction in the young adult genre, but it also has aspects of time travel.

I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this novel, as they take these teenagers back to old life in Verona. Reading about life and culture back then was an interesting addition to the novel, and added dimension to the plot. Another good choice the author made while writing this novel was having the story be told from third person. I enjoyed this because you got a deeper look into all of the characters thoughts, and how they reacted to the changes. 

Hansum by far was my favourite character, and I am not usually one to choose a male protagonist over a female. I felt that Hansum had more character development, could be seen as more relatable, and also was just fun to read. 

Overally I thought this book was very interesting and had a unique concept, and I would recommend it to readers that are looking for something different. Although I did not marathon-read the trilogy, I do plan on reading them this summer.